UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -
Following a weekend off, the Penn State men's hockey team will return to action Friday, Dec. 28 for the start of the Three Rivers Classic at Pittsburgh's CONSOL Energy Center, home to the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Nittany Lions (7-8-0) will face off against Robert Morris (7-4-2) Friday at 4:30 p.m., while opening faceoff between No. 5 Miami (11-3-4) and Ohio State (7-6-5) is set at 7:30 p.m. The consolation and championship games will take place Saturday, Dec. 29 at 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., respectively.

FOLLOW ALONG
Both Penn State games will be available on the Penn State Sports Network (WRSC 103.1 FM locally) and through the All-Access channel at GoPSUsports.com. In-game updates will also be available through the team's Twitter account (@PennStateMHKY).

PENN STATE IN NHL VENUES
Penn State will play its first of three games at NHL arenas Friday night. Following the Three Rivers Classic, the Nittany Lions will face Vermont at Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Center, home to the NHL's Flyers, Jan. 19.

HOMECOMING
Seniors Michael Longo (Allison Park) and George Saad (Wexford) and freshman Matthew Skoff (McKees Rocks) will return home to Pittsburgh for the Three Rivers Classic. During their youth hockey careers, Longo played for the Mahoning Valley Phantoms and Pittsburgh Junior Penguins, while Saad and Skoff were members of the Pittsburgh Hornets.

DÉJÀ VU
Penn State and Robert Morris will faceoff Friday 13 days after their last matchup at Greenberg Ice Pavilion. Sophomore Tommy Olczyk and freshman Curtis Loik gave Penn State a 2-1, second-period lead, but the Colonials added a goal in the second and third to take the lead. Senior defenseman Brian Dolan recorded his first career point with an assist on Olczyk's goal.

PENNSYLVANIA DIVISION I HOCKEY
Penn State and Robert Morris represent two of the three NCAA Division I programs located in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Erie-based Mercyhurst, which competes with Robert Morris in Atlantic Hockey, is the third Pennsylvania program.

SCOUTING ROBERT MORRIS
The Colonials are tied for eighth in Atlantic Hockey with a 4-3-1 conference mark. Robert Morris is on a five-game unbeaten streak (3-0-2) and has gone 2-0-1 against Penn State and Ohio State during the past three weekends. Senior forward Adam Brace is tied for third in the country with two shorthanded goals, while classmate Eric Levine ranks fourth in the NCAA in save percentage (.942) and 21st in GAA (2.17).

NEWEST DIVISION I TEAMS
Friday night's game will feature the two schools that most recently added NCAA Division I hockey. Robert Morris joined the NCAA Division I ranks for the 2004-05 season.

POTENTIAL BIG TEN MATCHUP
Penn State could play its first Big Ten opponent of the season if it faces Ohio State Saturday. The Nittany Lions will also play Michigan State (1/25-26) and Wisconsin (2/24-25) in 2012-13.

PENALTY KILL
Penn State has given its opposition at least two power-play opportunities in each game this season. After surrendering five power-play goals in 19 chances to open the season, the Penn State penalty kill has gone 49-for-56 (.875) during the last nine games.

LEAVING THEIR MARKS
Freshman David Glen (8g, 8a), who has not gone more than one game without registering a point, has notched at least one point in 10 games this season. He has five multi-point games in 2012-13. Classmate Casey Bailey (6g, 5a), who has not gone more than two straight games without a point, has collected at least one point in seven games. Glen (3g, 4a) and freshman Curtis Loik (2g, 2a) recorded team-leading four-game point-scoring streaks from Oct. 20-Nov. 3.

FRESHMAN IMPACT
All nine of Penn State's skating freshmen have recorded at least one point during the 2012-13 season. Penn State freshmen account for six of the Nittany Lions' top-10 point-scorers.

LOOKING AHEAD
Following the Three Rivers Classic, the Nittany Lions will open 2013 with a two-game series at Connecticut Jan. 4-5.